Report urges new artery panel

The 30-acre Surface Artery park and Rose Kennedy Greenway that will replace the elevated portion of Interstate 93 in downtown Boston should be controlled and maintained by a new governmental entity, according to a draft report released yesterday by the Surface Artery Legislative Commission.

The report, a "working draft" subject to change in the coming weeks, also recommends that the City of Boston be responsible for security in the new open space, as well as zoning regulations, permits, and licensing.

Still unresolved by the 12 lawmakers on the commission are the issues of who will own the Central Artery corridor, Boston or the state, and how financial responsibility for the area will be divided.

The commission recommended that state lawmakers pass enabling legislation no later than November, suggesting that efforts to resolve lingering, contentious issues will shift into high gear this summer.